Understanding "视频" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 视频
• Pinyin: shìpín
• Literal Meaning: "视" (shì) means "to see" or "vision," and "频" (pín) means "frequency" or "repeatedly." Together, they suggest "visual frequency" or "repeated visuals."
• Primary Meaning: The word refers to "video" in English, encompassing recorded or live visual content, such as movies, clips, or video calls.

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage:
• "视频" is a modern term widely used in digital contexts, such as watching videos online (看视频 kàn shìpín), uploading videos (上传视频 shàngchuán shìpín), or video calls (视频通话 shìpín tōnghuà).
• It is neutral in tone and applies to both formal and informal settings.

• Unlike "电影" (diànyǐng, "movie"), which refers specifically to films, "视频" is a broader term for any video content.

• Character Breakdown:

• 视 (shì): Means "to see," "vision," or "to look." It appears in words like "电视" (diànshì, "TV") and "视力" (shìlì, "eyesight").
• 频 (pín): Means "frequency" or "repeatedly." It is also used in "频繁" (pínfán, "frequent") and "频道" (píndào, "TV channel").

3. Example Sentences

1. Chinese: 我喜欢在YouTube上看视频。
   Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuān zài YouTube shàng kàn shìpín.
   English: I like watching videos on YouTube.

2. Chinese: 我们可以用微信视频聊天。
   Pinyin: Wǒmen kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn shìpín liáotiān.
   English: We can have a video chat using WeChat.

3. Chinese: 这个视频很有趣，你也看看吧！
   Pinyin: Zhège shìpín hěn yǒuqù, nǐ yě kàn kan ba!
   English: This video is very interesting—you should watch it too!

Cultural Notes

• With the rise of platforms like Douyin (TikTok), Bilibili, and Youku, "视频" has become a central part of Chinese digital culture. Short videos (短视频 duǎn shìpín) are especially popular among younger generations.
• Live streaming (直播 zhíbō) is often considered a subset of "视频" culture, blending real-time interaction with video content.

Conclusion

"视频" (shìpín) is a versatile and essential word in modern Chinese, referring to all kinds of video content. Remember it by breaking it down: "视" (vision) + "频" (frequency) = "video." Whether you're watching, sharing, or making videos, this is the word to use!